gulliver of mars-第24节
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ss would allow me to ascertain； as utterly trapped as any mortal could be。
I will not dwell on the next few minutes； for no one likes to acknowledge that he has been unmanned even for a space。 When those minutes were over calmness and con… sideration returned； and I was able to look about。
All the opposite cliffs； rising sheer from the water； were in light； their cold blue and white surfaces rising far up into the black starfields overhead。 Looking at them intently from this vantage…point I saw without at first understanding that along them horizontally； tier above tier； were rows of objects； likelikewhy； good Heavens； they were like men and women in all sorts of strange postures and positions！ Rubbing my eyes and looking again I perceived with a start and a strange creepy feeling down my back that they WERE men and women！hundreds of them； thousands； all in rows as cormorants stand upon sea…side cliffs； myriads and myriads now I looked about； in every conceivable pose and attitude but never a sound； never a movement amongst the vast concourse。
Then I turned back to the cliffs behind me。 Yes！ they ere there too； dimmer by reason of the shadows； but there for certain； from the snowfields far above down； downgood Heavens！ to the very level where I stood。 There was one of them not ten yards away half in and half out of the ice wall； and setting my teeth I walked over and examined him。 And there was another further in behind as I peered into the clear blue depth； another behind that one； another behind himjust like cherries in a jelly。
It was startling and almost incredible； yet so many wonderful things had happened of late that wonders were losing their sharpness； and I was soon examining the cliff almost as coolly as though it were only some trivial geo… logical 〃section；〃 some new kind of petrified sea…urchins which had caught my attention and not a whole nation in ice； a huge amphitheatre of fossilised humanity which stared down on me。
The matter was simple enough when you came to look at it with philosophy。 The Martians had sent their dead down here for many thousand years and as they came they were frozen in； the bands and zones in which they sat indicating perhaps alternating seasons。 Then after Nature had been storing them like that for long ages some up… heaval happened； and this cleft and lake opened through the heart of the preserve。 Probably the river once ran far up there where the starlight was crowning the blue cliffs with a silver diadem of light； only when this hollow opened did it slowly deepen a lower course； spreading out in a lake； and eventually tumbling down those icy steps lose itself in the dark roots of the hills。 It was very simple； no doubt； but incredibly weird and wonderful to me who stood； the sole living thing in that immense concourse of dead humanity。
Look where I would it was the same everywhere。 Those endless rows of frozen bodies lying； sitting； or standing stared at me from every niche and cornice。 It almost seemed； as the light veered slowly round； as though they smiled and frowned at times； but never a word was there amongst those millions； the silence itself was audible； and save the dull low thunder of the fall； so monotonous the ear be… came accustomed to and soon disregarded it； there was not a sound anywhere； not a rustle； not a whisper broke the eternal calm of that great caravansary of the dead。
The very rattle of the shingle under my feet and the jingle of my navy scabbard seemed offensive in the perfect hush； and； too awed to be frightened； I presently turned away from the dreadful shine of those cliffs and felt my way along the base of the wall on my own side。 There was no means of escape that way； and presently the shingle beach itself gave out as stated； where the cliff wall rose straight from the surface of the lake； so I turned back； and finding a grotto in the ice determined to make myself as comfortable as might be until daylight came。
CHAPTER XII
Fortunately there was a good deal of broken timber thrown up at 〃high…water〃 mark； and with a stack of this at the mouth of the little cave a pleasant fire was soon made by help of a flint pebble and the steel back of my sword。 It was a hearty blaze and lit up all the near cliffs with a ruddy jumping glow which gave their occu… pants a marvellous appearance of life。 The heat also brought off the dull rime upon the side of my recess； leaving it clear as polished glass； and I was a little startled to see； only an inch or so back in the ice and standing as erect as ever he had been in life； the figure of an imposing grey clad man。 His arms were folded； his chin dropped upon his chest； his robes of the finest stuff； the very flowers they had decked his head with frozen with immortality； and under them； round his crisp and iron…grey hair； a simple band of gold with strange runes and figures engraved upon it。
There was something very simple yet stately about him； though his face was hidden and as I gazed long and in… tently the idea got hold of me that he had been a king over an undegenerate Martian race； and had stood waiting for the Dawn a very； very long time。
I wished a little that he had not been quite so near the glassy surface of the ice down which the warmth was bringing quick moisture drops。 Had he been back there in the blue depths where others were sitting and crouching it would have been much more comfortable。 But I was a sailor； and misfortune makes strange companions； so I piled up the fire again； and lying down presently on the dry shingle with my back to him stared moodily at the blaze till slowly the fatigues of the day told； my eyelids dropped and； with many a fitful start and turn； at length I slept。
It was an hour before dawn； the fire had burnt low and I was dreaming of an angry discussion with my tailor in New York as to the sit of my last new trousers when a faint sound of moving shingle caught my quick seaman ear； and before I could raise my head or lift a hand； a man's weight was on mea heavy； strong man who bore me down with irresistible force。 I felt the slap of his ice…cold hand upon my throat and his teeth in the back of my neck！ In an instant； though but half awake； with a yell of surprise and anger I grappled with the enemy； and exerting all my strength rolled him over。 Over and over we went struggling to… wards the fire； and when I got him within a foot or so of it I came out on top； and； digging my knuckles into his throttle； banged his head upon the stony floor in reckless rage； until all of a sudden it seemed to me he was done for。 I relaxed my grip； but the other man never moved。 I shook him again； like a terrier with a rat； but he never resented it。 Had I killed him？ How limp and cold he was！ And then all of a sudden an uneasy feeling came upon me。 I reached out； and throwing a handful of dried stuff upon the embers the fire danced gaily up into the air； and the blaze showed me I was savagely holding down to the gravel and kneeling on the chest of that long…dead king from my grotto wall！
It was the man out of the ice without a doubt。 There was the very niche he had fallen from under the influence of the fire heat； the very recess； exactly in his shape in every detail； whence he had stood gazing into vacuity all those years。 I left go my hold； and after the flutter in my heart had gone down； apologetically set him up against the wall of the cavern whence he had fallen； then built up the fire until twirling flames danced to the very roof in the blue light of dawn； and hobgoblin shadows leapt and capered about us。 Then once more I sat down on the opposite side of the blaze； resting my chin upon my hands； and stared into the frozen eyes of that grim stranger； who； with his chin upon his knees； stared back at me with irresistible； remorseless steadfastness。
He was as fresh as if he had died but yesterday； yet by his clothing and something in his appearance； which was not that of the Martian of to…day； I knew he might be many thousand years old。 What things he had seen； what wonders he knew！ What a story might be put into his mouth if I were a capable writer gifted with time and imagination instead of a poor outcast； ill…paid lieutenant whose literary wit is often taxed hardly to fill even a log… book entry！ I stared at him so long and hard； and he at me through the blinking flames； that again I dozedand dozed and dozed again until at last when I woke in good earnest it was daylight。
By this time hunger was very aggressive。 The fire was naught but a circlet of grey ashes； the dead king； still sitting against the cave…side； looked very blue and cold； and with an uncomfortable realisation of my position I shook myself together； picked up and pocketed without much thought the queer gold circlet that had dropped from his forehead； and went outside to see what prospect of escape the new day had brought。
It was not much。 Upriver there was not the remotest chance。 Not even a Niagara steamer could have forged back against the sluice coming down from the gulch there。 Looking round； the sides of the icy amphitheatrejust lighting up now with glorious gold and crimson glimmers of morningwere as steep as a wall face； only back towards the falls was
